Just a little peace
Thank Wired for reminding me about religion (see http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/07/mf_chainworld/all/1 ), particularly the quote "I'm in ur temple, flippin ur tables".
I have a bit of a cold and sore throat, so I ducked into my local pharmacy to grab some over the counter meds. There, next to the thing I wanted, was a box of Oscillococcinum. For those not familiar, go off and read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillococcinum and then come back.
For those not familiar with the real "science" behind homeopathic medicine, they make their preparations by putting a tiny amount of flavor in water, and then remove the flavor and give you the water. No joke. Look it up.
Yep, it's quackery, in my pharmacy. It's a big deal, because people think "Homeopathic" is special and magic and good, and buy this crap instead of real drugs that will make them feel better. But it particularly irritated me because it was right next to the real stuff, on the same shelf, with the same sort of branding and marketing, designed to make you think it treats a real disease. Where is the FDA when you need them. Isn't this illegal? People in the EU are trying to pass laws to prohibit real pharmacies from even carrying the stuff. No kidding, and I don't blame them.
Then I looked next to this snake oil, and saw... wait for it... the cheap knock-off store-brand snake oil. I almost lost it, I really did. I almost wrapped my arm around the whole lot of it and dumped it on the floor. I'm in ur pharmacy, flippin over ur snake oil...
Then I came to my senses, grabbed my non-drowsy multi-symptom cold relief and rushed to the register...
Where the cute freckly college student asked me my birthday. "You're kidding, right?" I know they've pulled the pseudoephedrine off the shelves (you know, in case I decide to make a few milligrams of methamphetamine or something from my half dozen pills), but wtf? "It's the Dextromethorphan. We're [blah blah] prevent teen drug abuse [blah blah]".
*blink*
You mean if I take this ENTIRE BOX of pills all at once, I can feel a little more loopy than I already do because of the cold? AND suffer all the ill affects of ACETOMINOPHEN OVERDOSE?
You mean you can't tell from my RECEEDING HAIRLINE that I'm not a teen, and am capable of finding better drugs (at cheaper prices) on the INTERNET?
I smiled, and lied about my birthdate, just to see if she'd check on it. She didn't.
But next time? I really am going to knock over a whole row of homeopathic crap. I wonder how soon it'll be before they card people for that too.
[edit: see also, http://xkcd.com/971/ , including mouseover text]
I have a bit of a cold and sore throat, so I ducked into my local pharmacy to grab some over the counter meds. There, next to the thing I wanted, was a box of Oscillococcinum. For those not familiar, go off and read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillococcinum and then come back.
For those not familiar with the real "science" behind homeopathic medicine, they make their preparations by putting a tiny amount of flavor in water, and then remove the flavor and give you the water. No joke. Look it up.
Yep, it's quackery, in my pharmacy. It's a big deal, because people think "Homeopathic" is special and magic and good, and buy this crap instead of real drugs that will make them feel better. But it particularly irritated me because it was right next to the real stuff, on the same shelf, with the same sort of branding and marketing, designed to make you think it treats a real disease. Where is the FDA when you need them. Isn't this illegal? People in the EU are trying to pass laws to prohibit real pharmacies from even carrying the stuff. No kidding, and I don't blame them.
Then I looked next to this snake oil, and saw... wait for it... the cheap knock-off store-brand snake oil. I almost lost it, I really did. I almost wrapped my arm around the whole lot of it and dumped it on the floor. I'm in ur pharmacy, flippin over ur snake oil...
Then I came to my senses, grabbed my non-drowsy multi-symptom cold relief and rushed to the register...
Where the cute freckly college student asked me my birthday. "You're kidding, right?" I know they've pulled the pseudoephedrine off the shelves (you know, in case I decide to make a few milligrams of methamphetamine or something from my half dozen pills), but wtf? "It's the Dextromethorphan. We're [blah blah] prevent teen drug abuse [blah blah]".
*blink*
You mean if I take this ENTIRE BOX of pills all at once, I can feel a little more loopy than I already do because of the cold? AND suffer all the ill affects of ACETOMINOPHEN OVERDOSE?
You mean you can't tell from my RECEEDING HAIRLINE that I'm not a teen, and am capable of finding better drugs (at cheaper prices) on the INTERNET?
I smiled, and lied about my birthdate, just to see if she'd check on it. She didn't.
But next time? I really am going to knock over a whole row of homeopathic crap. I wonder how soon it'll be before they card people for that too.
[edit: see also, http://xkcd.com/971/ , including mouseover text]